Thermodynamics and its applications, and basics of the kinetic theory of gases and of statistical mechanics: equilibrium, work and heat, laws of thermodynamics, Carnot process, absolute temperature, entropy, ideal gas, thermodynamic potentials, phase transitions, multicomponent systems; Boltzmann equation, H-Theorem, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution; statistical ensembles.
Objective
Develop a physical understanding for thermodynamic phenomena and first contact with statistical descriptions, e.g., transport described through Boltzmann equation or classical statistical physics. Equilibrium thermodynamics as described via state variables as opposed to non-equilibrium transport phenomena. Phase transformations, such as liquid-gas or ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition. Application of mathematical concepts such as theory of functions of many variables, Legendre transformation, statistical sums. Preparation for (quantum-)statistical mechanics.
Content
Thermodynamics and its applications, and basics of the kinetic theory of gases and of statistical mechanics: equilibrium, work and heat, laws of thermodynamics, Carnot process, absolute temperature, entropy, ideal gas, thermodynamic potentials, phase transitions, multicomponent systems; Boltzmann equation, H-Theorem, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution; statistical ensembles.